Aeroplane.



G. A. HENDERSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICM'IOIl FILED FEB. 26. 1910.

I Patented Dec. 21, 1.915.l

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

MLMW.

G. A. HENDERSON.

AEROPLAN'E. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, i910.l

asHEETs-SHEET 2.

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INVENTOR *Pate'nted Dec.- 21,1915.

G'. A. HENDERSON.

' AERoPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26. 1'910.

Patented Deo. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mmm-rom l sur i GEORGE A.. HENDERSON, 0F CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

AEROPLANE.

meant. y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2l, leila.

Application flied February 2G, `1910. Serial No. 546,29.

To all 'whom t 'may concern: Y

.Be it known that l, GEORGE A. LHENDnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of lWest Virginia,'-haverinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Aeroplanes, of-which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference belng had to the accompanylng drawings, form ing part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, with certain parts omitted for clearness of illustration. Fig. 3 4is a. detail View showing a part of the propeller driving gearing. Fig. ai is a perspective view showing one end of the aeroplane and the manner of mooring it.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing a portion of one of the carrying planes. are detail views hereinafter referred to.

My invention has relation to aeroplanes, and is designed to provide an aeroplane whose carrying planes and propellers are so located and arranged that the latter will force large volumes of air against the planes which are thereby caused to utilize air currents of the machines oyvn creation instead of the free air ahead. of them.

rlfurther object of my .invention is to generate air 'currents within the machine of suiicient volume and velocity to overcome natural air .currents and conditions` whicl' would otherwise affect the course and equilibrium of the machine.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings showing one embodiment of my invention, which will now be described, it being premised, however, that the broader features of my invention are capable of varivous embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

lln these drawings, the letter F, wherever seen, designates the frame work of the Inachine, which may be in general -of any suitable character. s shown, it consists of a plurality of circular members set vertically vand spaced fromeach other, and connected by longitudinally extending tie-members B having the inwardly bent end portions C.

,S designates a center shaft, supported suitable bearings (seeFig. 3) inthe frame Work F, andldriven by motors M. These in'otors are supported within suitable cars lL which are located centrally within the cir- Figs. '6 and 7 cular members of the frame work, as shown in Fig. 2.I The shaft S carries a number of bevel gear'wheels X rigidly secured thereto, and which mesh with and drive corresponding wheels X on radial shafts S. The shafts S, at their outer ends carry bevel gear wheels X2 which mesh with and drive bevel gear wheels X3 on the propeller shafts A number of these shafts S2 (in the present instance six are shown) surround the shafts S, being spaced about equally from said shaft and from each other. (See Fig. 2.)- Secured to each shaft S2 are prope'llers P, set at intervals from each other.

l Surrounding each propeller, is a fixed circutWeen each adjacent pair of circular. frame members around the car's -K. (See Fig.. 5.)

Each plane is rigidly secured to a transverse' barJn which extends through and is mounted in bearings in the 'corresponding car. rlhe bars Ja have cranked central portions, one ofwhich -is connected to a pivoted lever J designed to vbe moved backward and forward by the operator within the forward car and to be set in a fixed position by means of 4a suitable pawl and rack bar device J2. The series of bars Jl are connected together in any suitable manner so as to be moved in unison by the operator in the forward car and who can thus set the planes J at any desired angle for the purpose of effecting changes in the altitude'of the machine in yHigh Y. designates control members in the form of relatively small planes Whose inclinatio'n can be changed to thereby adect the inclination of the machine as a whole. @ne of these members is placed in the rear of the three forward' sets of propellers, but other members may be placed at various positions as required.

treme rear end of the machine, .but within ll@ R is a rudder which is located at tlfe eX- i the area of the air currents created by the machine rl`his rudder may be operated by with their inner ends in contact by means of` springs t. The rods engage an eye t2 which is connected to the anchor T by the connection T. T4 is a release wire or cable which is connected to the rods T in a manner to elfect their separation.

Instar-ting, when the propellers have generated a sullicient force. to liftthe machine (without the machines traveling upon the surface of -the earth for any distance or acquiring` forward momentum in its entirety with respect to the earth), the operator inanipulates the release wire T4 to separate the sliding bars T3. This releases the machine from its anchorage, and the machine rises.

ln alighting, the entire weight of the machine rests and is supported by an elastic cradle suspended from the main frame and embracing the lower portion of the machine. The cradle is free to oscillate on its connections 02 with the main frame, and the weight of the .runners B and wheels .B2 carried by the cradle is sullicient to cause it to remain parallel with the earth notwithstanding the lateral tilting of the machine proper. The connections C2 which suspend the cradle from the main frame are suiiciently flexible to permit of this relative movement between the main frame and the cradle. The wheels B2 are for the purpose of enabling the machine as a whole to be moved from place to place along the ground.

The cars K are preferably located slightly below the machines vertical center, their weight, together with that of the motors therein, tending to insure equilibrium.

The strength, per square foot, and the entire area, of the planes used, in this machine, must be, before their actual construction, and use, exactly determined by the following units: (l) The lifting capacity of a square foot of such plane, inclined at a given angle, when there is presented to its undersurface, an air current of a given velocity; (2) the fixing of that given velocity of air-current, by measuring its forceat a given distance in the rear of propellers of consistent construction, revolved at a given number of revolutions per minute; and the location of such propellers on shafts approximately at distances forward of such planes, when such distances are so determined, such distances depending upon the capacity of the machine designed to be built, and consequently its size and power; (3) the fixing of the weight of the entire machine, (with its motors, consistent with its lifting capacity, so determined), at a number of pounds so substantially less than the maximum capacity as to permit of sullicient plane-surface being exposed to such selfgenerated currents, in flight, as will maintain .equilibrium and altitude after, by. accident to the propellers, motors, or otherwise, a substantial percentage of the aggregate air current in the machine is 'withf drawn from the elfective plane surface.

The application of sullicient power, by 'the means herein described, will result in the uniform vertical revolution of so many of' propellers ll as may be required to lift andA move forward the machine in the air, by the onrush of the generated air currents upon the planes, properly inclined.

' lt will be apparent from the foregoingFA that the distinctive feature of my invention is in the provision of means whereby the n'rachine creates its own immediate' air condi: tions, and whereby such. conditions are sul'liciently powerful to exclude or overcomg/ natural currents of free air and other natural conditions which would otherwise unfavorably affect the course, speed, o1; equilibrium of the machine. This created air condition is substantially continuous throughout the length of and around the machine, so thatnone of its parts are directly exposed to the free air through which it passes, and is sntlicient in cyclonic force per square foot to furnish themaxinunn resistance to the propellers and also toovrei-, come outside air currents of ordinary velocity.

The vertical revolution of the forward. propellers, at about the limit of their safe speed, results in their using all free air available in front of and partially to the sides of them, which they are capable of using, for generating propelling force.

The faster the blades are propelled through the free air ahead, the more nearly is supplied the maximum resistance those propellers are capable of using in furtherance of their object. ltwill, therefore, be noted, at this point that no dead, air-resisting surface' is presented to the free -air on the machines onward course,-the area of surface so presented being active, controlling surfaces. This eliminates resistance to the forward movement of the machine, which would exist in the machine if inactive surfaces therein were pushed against the air in front of it; and. in addition, tends to create a suction by slightly tending to create a vacuum in front of the moving machine, partially in so far as a vacuum may be tended to be created in the open air.

The location ofpropellers on sets of shafts volved in conjunction with other-propellers,

results in the securing of correspondingly more air-resistance for use in itself, both from the increased inrushing speed of that air forced back through the front and second propellers, and from lateral suction; and the location of such other propellers, substantially as shown, will result in correspondingly increased propelling force of each of them over that force possible by their independent operation. rl`he combined action of all the propellers, surrounding the said cars K, will encircle the machine and all of its parts with such a force of its own-v as will completely overcome outside atmospheric interferences, and attain the maximum air-resistance on its propellers surfaces, within itself, for its use in propelling itself at such maximum speed, to the substantial exclusion of outside resistance to its forward movement, invfurtherance of theI object of my invention.

The operation of the propellers in moving the machine forward, as aforesaid, will, depending upon the proper adjustment of the planes JJ, and the controls YY, maintain the altitude of the machine when in flight, or according to the angle at which such planes and controls are adjusted, cause the machine to gradually rise, by reason of the onrushing of the air, (so generated within the machines radius, and there so uniformly controlled by it) to and against the properly inclined surfaces of said planes JJpand controls YY, with the result that When the machine is traveling at a high speed the planes and controls may be, by the operator, gradually adjusted, proportionately as'such speed increases, to a position approxim'ately parallel with its shafts, frame Work and cars, for, because of the increased pressure on the undersides of said planes and controls, almost infinitesimal inclination of the same is required to maintainthe machine in its normal traveling altitude; and the' resistance of such planes and controls to .the air then forced against them, (though Within the radius of the machine itself, and generated by it), in the beginning' of its flight, is correspondingly eliminated, resulting' in accelerated speed attained. At this point 1t is WellV to particularly 'call attention to the fact, as shown, that the planesand controls,

as Well as the machines rudder, are all With- 4 inthe radius ofthe currents of air generated and controlled Within the machine itself; and that no part of them extend beyond the forward or rear propeller-s, except the said rudder, which, .located in the sectional center of the rear of the machine, is surrounded by the current of air in the machines Wake,

and not aflectable, therefor@ by crossor other outside air-currents; and that at no time does any part'of either the controls, planes or rudder, present their surfaces to aught but the uniform controlled and fixed current of air generated Within the machine, already used .by it in its propelling capacity, and extending uniformly throughout the length and breadth of the entire machine in such volume and velocity as to overcome,`

exclude and expel cross or other interfering air-currents, rather than to seek to adapt the aerial-planes to such cross-currents, after such planes have been attacked by them.

The machinescarrying capacity is limited'only by its size and power. Its passengers are sufficiently housed Within the cars l, to avoid inconvenience from the high pressure of Wind generatedv about said cars K by the machines mechanism.

lnstead of planes of the form shown, l

`may use any other suitable form; the number of propellers may be varied; the operating connections can be Widely changed; any suitable form 'of gearing may, be employed for connecting the motors with the propeller shafts, and various other changes may be made within the scope of my claims.

l claim 1. An aeroplane, having va sustaining plane, and a set of propellers mounted to revolve on normally horizontal axes, .said set being disposed around a central longitudinal axis of the aeroplane and all the propellers of the set acting to create an artiicial atmosphere about the sustaining plane; substantially as described.k

2. An aeroplane having a plurality of transverse sustaining planes arranged in tandem, and a set of propellers for creating an artificial atmosphere around each plane, the propellers of each set being mounted on normally horizontal axes, and the sets being in tandem about a common longitudinal axis of the aeroplane; substantially as described.

3. An aeroplane having a plurality of transverse sustaining planes arranged in. tandem, and a set of propellers for creating an artificial atmosphere around each plane,

the propellers of each set being mounted on' will lie

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' round the plane with an artificial atmos- 4. An aeroplane having a plurality of transverse planes arranged in the central portion of the machine, a central motordriven shaft, a plurality of propeller shafts arranged around the central shaft, and propellers carried by said shafts, together with means for varying the inclination of said planes; substantially as described.

An aeroplane comprising a series of circular frames, a plurality of transverse sustaining planes arranged in tandem between said frames and adjacent zto the central portion thereof, and a plurality of propeller Wheels carried by each of said frames and arranged to operate in circles of larger diameter than the transverse dimensions of the planes to create a dominating artificial atmosphere about the same, substantially as described.

6. An aeroplane having a relatively small normally horizontal supporting plane, and a series of propellers arranged in front of the plane and in a circle whose diameter is greater than the transverse dimension of the plane and thereby acting to entirely surphere sulliciently strong to overcome the effeet of natural atmospheric currents in the .air through which the aeroplane is passing,

substantially as described.

7. An aeroplane having a relatively small supporting plane-surface, comprising a plurality of planes normally horlzontal, and arranged 1n tandem, and a series of sets ol' propellers, the propellers of each set being mounted in a circle about a common longitudinal axis and to revolve in planes at substantially right angles to such axis and :1r-- rangedto surround the planes with artilicial air-currents, created by the propellers, and suiliciently strong to overcome the eflect of natural air-currents in the free air through which the machine passes, substantially as described.

An aeroplane, having a plurality of sets of propellers arranged in tandem, the propellers of each set being arranged around a common longitudinal axis of the machine.

and mounted to rotate in planes at substan- YV. C, SUMMERs,

CHAS. F. LITTLEPAGE. 

